President William Ruto has assured former NHIF staff who missed positions in the new Social Health Authority (SHA) that they will not be abandoned.
Speaking at State House Nairobi on May 9, Ruto said the government would reassign the affected workers to other roles within public service.
He made the remarks during the official handover of disease surveillance vehicles to the 47 counties.
Ruto emphasized that no government employee would be rendered jobless under his administration.
He explained that SHA’s recruitment process prioritized NHIF staff due to their experience.
However, he acknowledged that not all could be absorbed due to limited slots and rigorous selection criteria.
Ruto said those left out would be accommodated in other departments based on their qualifications.
He assured Kenyans that the transition from NHIF to SHA was being handled responsibly.
The President also pointed to the need for skilled personnel to effectively manage health insurance under SHA.
He noted that the recruitment process was nearly complete.
According to Ruto, the vehicles distributed to counties represent more than just improved logistics.
He said they are a sign of the government’s resolve to strengthen disease surveillance and public health systems.
Ruto praised counties for their cooperation in implementing universal healthcare programs.
He added that over 22 million Kenyans had already enrolled in SHA.
The President cited this as proof of public confidence in the new health scheme.
He said registrations were averaging 45,000 per day.
Ruto further stated that the government had fully funded primary healthcare services.
He affirmed that every Kenyan enrolled in SHA would access primary care at no personal cost.
The President also highlighted efforts to improve the supply of essential medicines across the country.
He said this was part of a broader plan to boost public trust in healthcare services.
Ruto concluded by calling for continued collaboration between national and county governments.
He said the future of Kenya’s healthcare lies in coordination, innovation, and accountability.
By Newshub